Mast install? "No" says the weather...

We were scheduled to re-install the mast with new standing rigging, LED trilight, spreader lights, etc this past Monday (Feb 25th). To do so, we would have to return to Steveston, normally a 27 nm trip via Sand Heads and the Fraser River.

The normal route from Vancouver Harbour to Steveston (North up)

Michelle and I planned to go either Saturday or Sunday, depending on the weather forecast. Well, it was not to be. For the first time in a very long time -- we cannot remember the last time -- we had three days of gales in Georgia Strait. Both SE and NW gales.  And it really did blow.  Given that Sand Heads (and the route) are very exposed to both SE and NW gales, and there can be nasty conditions where the river outflow meets NW winds in the strait, we decided to re-schedule to later in March.  (Much better for the rigger, who probably wasn't looking forward to going aloft in strong -- and cold -- winds.)

If the same forecast happens in March -- unlikely -- we may take the protected (weatherwise) back route via the Fraser River North Arm (entrance just off "Pt. Grey" on the chartlet above) to New Westminster then down the South Arm to Steveston (an  extra 15 nm). The low bridges on this route will be no problem, given our lack of a mast!

We are anxious to become a sailing vessel again. Until then, some more skiing and lots more other stuff on Pelagia.

Spiffing up Pelagia: New upholstery

Among many upgrades completed/in progress/planned for Pelagia, some fall into the "spiffing up" category. The upholstery in the main salon was definitely showing wear and a little tired (after at least 20 years) 

Here is what the old upholstery looked like:

old port-side settee

old starboard-side settee

We decided (February, 2013) to re-upholster: new material, new colour/design, and new foam. Here is the new main salon upholstery:

New starboard-side settee and table

New port-side settee

Besides looking great, they are also "improved". The bottom cushions are thicker and definitely more comfortable. We also had the backs cut differently to make it easier to use the settees as sea berths. 

We're pretty happy with the results!



P. S. In case you are wondering, we had the cushions done by Randy at
 The Chair Centre

Good work done very fast (that's right, he's not a "marine" upholsterer)

Skiing Whistler (January & February)

On the Wizard Express (Blackcomb Mt)

End of the day run -- heading down to Whistler Village (Michelle ahead with blue pack, Whistler Mt)

 

We've had a couple weeks of skiing up at Whistler in January and February. All sorts of conditions and lots of snow.

Had a good dump of new snow in January, but it was super heavy and windblown -- making the ski down from Whistler Peak via "Doom & Gloom" a real challenge.

Michelle skiing "Doom & Gloom" (Whistler Mt) in super heavy snow

Best skiing was early February, with a couple of good powder dumps -- this time light and easy (and fun) to ski.

David skiing Secret Bowl on Blackcomb

Michelle skiing down Blackcomb Glacier

To top it off, we had sunshine and powder!

At the bottom of Blackcomb Glacier

Lots of fun!  We'll be back up in March and April.

(Will we miss this next year in Mexico?)

What's the purpose of this blog?

Why do we have this blog?

As with so many other "sailing" blogs, we originally started this blog as a way to let our friends and family know, while we were away cruising, how and where we were, what we're thinking and planning, and to see photos, etc. This still remains a key purpose for the blog (though not the only one).

However, delaying our "leaving for Mexico" for one year resulted in this blog being less about our sailing and more about our travel (and skiing, and hiking...), especially over the past 6 months.  As we haven't left Vancouver yet (at least, not "long term"), perhaps the blog is not (yet) so important as a provider of information to our friends and family. Certainly seems so, as few of them have ever looked at the blog and they certainly don't "follow" the blog.     sigh....  

https://deborahrosereeves.wordpress.com/2011/08/20/thank-you/

But we are not alone in this. Just google "Why does no one read my blog?"  (yes, David actually did this),  and a very long list of links comes up. However,  most of these write about how to attract new   (i.e., unknown) readers to a blog.  Most seem to take a "marketing your blog" perspective. But that's not our issue: as the above notes,  the frustration lies with those we know (friends & family)  not reading the blog and thus not knowing what we are (or have been) up to....

http://www.thetwincoach.com/2012_05_01_archive.html

It's OK, we know they are busy and, perhaps just as important, they're generally not "blog readers". (Indeed, of the two of us, David is the regular blog reader -- Michelle rarely reads others' blogs.)

On the other hand... it is pretty cool to see we get readers from around the world -- as many as 23 different countries. 

 

We didn't think of them when we started;  but they are now also on our minds when a new piece is written.  Hopefully, the few readers out there who have chanced upon this blog will find at least something of interest or of use (maybe they were interested in Sceptre 41s, or sailing in British Columbia, or perhaps hiking/trekking). Of course, we welcome comments and questions. We certainly don't get many (but that too apparently is common for most blogs) -- perhaps that's a blessing as some blogs attract some pretty off-the-wall comments.

There are many reasons to write a blog. We don't try to be controversial (in contrast to a column in Forbe's suggesting bloggers should be "controversialists" ). And the idea that blogs need to conform to some specific standard or purpose (or frequency) seems wrong; such a view seems narrow and perhaps "elitist"). Whatever.  It's our blog. 

In the end, it seems the main, albeit unexpected, purpose of our blog is that it provides, for us, an easy-to-access (and read) repository of when and what we've been doing (and, occasionally, thinking). If, and when, others read it, that's great. They are very welcome.

Nepal treks: Posts updated (plus new posts)

For those interested...

Posts in October/November (2012) concerning our treks in Nepal have been updated, and posts added. Several photos from these treks are posted (including a short panoramic clip of Gosainkund area).  All photos (!) are posted on Flickr (see links to the right).

Back home in Vancouver

Jericho Beach Webcam shot of English Bay

Cloudy,  cold, and drizzly with wet snow flakes (but not sticking) -- must be Vancouver in December.  The local mountains are full of snow.  Quite the change for us.  On the positive side: the air is clean (and brisk), the sidewalks clean and uncrowded (especially with this weather), and water from the tap cold and drinkable. And it's home.

Winding down in Asia...

Our final two weeks in Asia were in Thailand.  Although food in Bali was pretty good, we were looking forward to delicious Thai food.   We were not disappointed! We first hopped on a bus from the Bangkok airport east to Rayong and Ban Chang (both east of Bangkok) to visit friends. (Brent was a fellow crew member with us on the "interesting" sail from Vancouver down to San Francisco on SV Sapphire in September.) Not much for tourists in the area, but we enjoyed our visit.  Brent and Kob (in Ban Chang, Thailand) We then went to our favourite beach town Hua Hin, and spent a relaxing 8 days at our usual hotel (Hotel Jed Pee Nong). To get there, we first took a shared mini van from Ban Chang to Bangkok's Victory Monument, then hopped on another mini van to Hua Hin. Those familiar with mini van transport in Thailand will know how damn fast these vans like to travel (140 km/h is not unusual) and how hair raising they can be. About 6 hours later, we arrived in Hua Hin. After the lack of tourists in eastern Thailand, the large number of tourists (most, it seemed, from Scandinavian countries) was a change. The town was decked out for Christmas. Hua Hin Market Village Mall: Decked out for Christmas After 8 days, we headed back to the Bangkok area, opting to take the brand-new luxury (big) bus between Hua Hin and Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport -- staying nearby in the Lat Krabang area. We like this area: besides being 5 minutes from the airport, and a good, reliable and cheap hotel favourite -- Thong Ta Resort -- the area if filled with places to eat, drink as well as night markets etc. It also has easy and fast transport into Bangkok by the "Airport Link/City Line" rapid train: take a songthaew (7 THB) or a taxi (40-70 THB) to Lat Krabang Station ("Sataannee Lat Krabang" in Thai). On our last full day, we spent a tiring day shopping in the MBK Shopping Centre in Bangkok -- Michelle was less tired, thanks to 2 hours in the spa....    MBK shopping ... while Michelle goes to the spa... Sadly, our trip comes to its end today, as we head home Vancouver. It sure will feel cold to us -- we've become so used to 30+ degrees (Celsius!) we don't even sweat now. Last dinner in Thailand Last "Leo"... Michelle is not a happy camper going home to rain and grey skies. David is more optimistic -- thinking of skiing, as well as getting back to Pelagia (oh, and all the work to do on her...).